Humanizing Superheroes: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

by Zyiah Tyler, Staff Reporter

Julie Vrabelová / Marvel Studios

On March 19, the excitable action series “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier” premiered on Disney +, two weeks after the finale of “WandaVision.” The series serves as political commentary with a side of classic Marvel action and witty banter between the two title characters. The show shines a light on the personalities and human sides of war veterans Bucky Barnes (played by Sebastian Stan) and Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie).

Malcolm Spellman, the head writer, tackles mental health, identity, extremism, propaganda, and racism in the series. The undertones are sprinkled throughout the four released episodes. The series follows the two characters who now live in a world without their Captain America, Steve Rogers (played in previous MCU films by Chris Evans).

“We didn’t show up with an agenda,” Spellman said. “You still want it to be fun and muscular, but you’re not going to be dishonest either.”

In the past year, Marvel writers have dipped their pens into the moral ambiguity of fictional characters: those who have done both villainous acts and heroic acts so much so that they cancel each other out and the characters don’t align with either side. Scarlet Witch serves as the most recent example.

Morals and personal values play an important part in the show. With John Walker (Wyatt Russell) descending into madness and Karli Morgenthau (Erin Kellyman) becoming a terrorist, sympathetic villains/antagonists are hard to come by.

"I see similarities, but I see differences also,” Kellyman said. "I think throughout the rest of the series, people will see more differences than similarities."

With its honest storytelling, the show manages to tug on viewers' hearts with Barnes and Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly). The emotion department is something Marvel never fails in.

In the comics, Bucky, Isaiah, and Sam have all taken on the mantle of Captain America. Here in the show, they’ve taken that same idea with a more realistic approach.

“The show is very honest and forthright and very unapologetic about dealing with the truth of what it means to be American,” Mackie said. “Captain America, Black Captain America — and if that's even a thing.”

Marvel continues to do a great job humanizing their superheroes. Fans hope the series gets another season, but nothing has been officially stated.

The season finale airs April 23 on Disney +.